NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, NY.- Students from Niagara University’s Introduction to Museum Studies course navigated many emotions as they planned, curated, and installed Connected Isolation.

The class of 13 used the museum’s internal and external digital database to each select five works from the CAM’s collection of over 5000 world-class artworks. Through a challenging voting process, they narrowed their 78 selections to 16 pieces consisting of contemporary photographs, paintings, prints, drawings, and sculptures. Each student wrote their interpretation of one of the works and contributed to its installation.

“We started the semester with the premise that we'd examine a concept related to the COVID-19 pandemic for the exhibition since it is a relevant shared experience,” says the CAM Director and class professor, Ellen Owens. “Throughout the exhibition planning process, the students carefully defined what they wanted to convey through their artwork selections.”

“This exhibition is powerful and can be interpreted in many ways. That’s the best part about it,” says Bennett Hunt, a freshman history major who aspires to work in a museum space post-graduation. “You can go into the exhibition thinking about it negatively or positively. It has some somber works that are reminiscent of hardship, but the exhibition is also a testament to the strength of people. We can look at these images and reflect on how they make us feel. That’s a gift in and of itself.”

One of the lead exhibition pieces is a photograph titled Christmas Wish, by former Niagara Gazette staff photographer Takaaki Iwabu, who is now employed as a photo editor for Bloomberg’s Tokyo bureau. The picture illustrates a young Chinese girl at her parent’s Niagara Falls, N.Y., restaurant on Christmas Eve.

Student curator Sebastian Newell said that although Iwabu’s photo was made 27 years ago, “the window sign ‘YES WE’RE OPEN’ is reminiscent of those seen in city windows during the COVID-19 lockdown.

This image exemplifies the dichotomy between the hardship that small businesses experienced and their ability to overcome adversity.”

“It’s cathartic to reflect on the difficult times during the pandemic,” says Amaya Mack, a senior theater studies major. “This whole experience has been a collective trauma. It’s interesting to reflect on our experiences together and see that even though we felt alone, we are together in how it made us feel. By reflecting on what happened, we can start moving forward.”

This exhibition comes on the heels of the CAM’s Nov. 17 opening of Ecce Sublimia: The Art of Christianity, which centers on how religion is taught at Niagara University using works from the museum’s collection, Western New York worship sites, and student research.

Introduction to Museum Studies is part of NU’s art history with museum studies major and is also a popular elective course. The major provides students with a scholarly and hands-on experience in curatorship, education, collections management, museum administration, development, and finances.

During the Dec. 8 opening reception for "Connected Isolation", students from the class will talk with guests and share insights during the remarks. The reception for Ecce Sublimia will be held concurrently. Light refreshments will be served. Guests may RSVP by visiting bit.ly/connectedisolation.

"Connected Isolation" is on view through March 26. The museum is open every Thursday, 1–7 p.m., and Friday–Sunday, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Admission is free. The CAM will be closed from Dec. 16 to Jan. 2 for the Niagara University Winter Recess.

Castellani Art Museum of Niagara University: With learning and public access at the heart of its mission, the Castellani Art Museum (CAM) is the premiere resource for the visual arts in Niagara County. The CAM's permanent collection includes over 5,000 pieces of modern and contemporary art, Niagara Falls art, and regional Folk Arts. The Museum is committed to the preservation of these artworks, along with offering exhibitions and programs that serve the campus, local communities, and tourists.